Faroese phrasebook

Faroese (føroyskt) is the main language of the Faroe Islands.

Pronunciation guide

Faroese pronunciation is quite straightforward once the basic rules have been learnt. Stress always falls on the first syllable on any word.

Vowels

Accented vowels are treated as letters in their own right in Faroese, with their own pronunciation. All vowels have long and short forms. Vowels are short in front of two or more consonants, otherwise they are long.

A a 

(Short) like "a" in "land", (long) like "ea" in "bear".

Á á 

(Short) like "aw" in "law", (long) like "wha" in "whack".

E e 

(Short) like "e" in "bet", (long) like "ai" in "air".

I i 

(Short) like "i" in "sit", (long) like the "ee" in "see".

Í í 

(Short) like the "wi" in "with", (long) like "whee" in "wheeze".

O o 

(Short) like "aw" in "law", (long) like "oa" in "oar".

Ó ó 

(Short) like "e" in "father", (long) like "o" in "wrote".

U u 

(Short) like "oo" in "foot", (long) like "oo" in "food".

Ú ú 

(Short) like Faroese long "i" but said with rounded lips, (long) like Faroese long "u" but said with rounded lips.

Y y 

Same as Faroese "i": (Short) like "i" in "sit", (long) like the "ee" in "see".

Ý ý 

Same as Faroese "í": (Short) like the "wi" in "with", (long) like "whee" in "wheeze".

Æ æ 

Same as Faroese "a": (Short) like "a" in "land", (long) like "ea" in "bear".

Ø ø 

(Short) like "e" in "father", (long) like short Faroese "ó" but lengthened.

Consonants

B b 

Like "b" in "bed".

D d 

Like "d" in "day".

Ð ð 

Like the "y" in "yes" when it is the final letter of a word, otherwise used to separate two vowels when they are in different syllables.

G g 

Silent when it is the final letter of a word, pronounced directly before and after consonants. It is used also as a separator between two vowels when they are in different syllables.

H h 

Like "h" in "hot".

J j 

Like "y" in "yes".

K k 

Like "k" in "k".

L l 

Like "l" in "like".

M m 

Like "m" in "me".

N n 

Like "n" in "nurse".

P p 

Like "p" in "push".

R r 

Like "r" in "radio".

S s 

Like "s" in "sun"

T t 

Like "t" in "take".

V v 

Like "v" in "value".

Common diphthongs

ei 

(Short) like (British) english "ei" in "either" , (Long) Like "i" in "hi" (or the English word "eye"). In the North it is pronounced like "oy" in "boy".

ey 

(Short) Like "e" in "bet", (Long) Like "ey" in "hey".

oy 

(Short) Like "o" in "hot" fused together with "ey" in "key", like (but not the same as) "oy" in "boy".

ðr 

Like "gr" in "great".

dj, ge, gi, gy, gey, gj, ggj 

Like "j" in "jaw".

ft 

Like "tt" in "butter".

hj 

Like "ch" in "church".

ke, ki, ky, key, kj 

Like "ch" in "church".

ll 

Like "t" and "l" fused together. Similar to Welsh "ll".

rn 

Like "dn" in "hadn't".

sj, sk, ske, ski, sky, skey, skj 

Like "sh" in "ship".

Phrase list

Basics

Note: The hyphens (-) are only there to help you break down the pronunciation of words. Pronounce the word without pausing on hyphens.

Common signs OPEN  Opið CLOSED  Stongt ENTRANCE  Inngongd EXIT  Útgongd EMERGENCY EXIT  Neyðdyr PUSH  Trýst PULL  Toga TOILET  Vesi, Baðiverilsi, Brúsibað, Bað, WC MEN  Menn, mannfólk WOMEN  Kvinnur, konufólk FORBIDDEN  Bannað

Hello. 

Halló. (hahloh)

Hello/Hi/Hey. (informal) 

Hey. (Hey)

How are you? 

Hvussu hevur tú tað? (Kvuss-u hev-ur too tay?)

Fine, thank you. 

Gott, takk. (Gohtt, takk)

What is your name? 

Hvussu eita tygum? (Kvuss-u aiht-a tee-yun?)

What is your name? (informal) 

Hvussu eitur tú? (Kvuss-u aiht-ur too?)

My name is ______ . 

Eg eiti ______ . (Ey aiht-eh _____ .)

Nice to meet you. 

Stuttligt at hitta teg. (Stut-leehtt eh-at heett-a teyh)

Please. 

Gerið so væl. (Jer-eh soh veal)

Thank you. 

Takk fyri. (Takk fi-reh)

Thanks. 

Takk. (Takk)

You're welcome. 

Onki at takka fyri. (On-che at takka fi-reh)

Yes. 

Ja. (Yea)

No. 

Nei. (Nai)

Excuse me. (getting attention) 

Orsaka. (Or-sha-ka)

Excuse me. (begging pardon) 

Umskylda. (Um-shil-da)

I'm sorry. 

Orsakið meg. (Or-sha-cheh mey)

Goodbye 

Farvæl. (Far-veal)

I can't speak Faroese [well]. 

Ey dugi ikki [so væl] at tosa føroyskt. (Ey du-weh ich-e [so veal] e-at tosah Fur-ee-st)

Do you speak English? 

Dugir tú eingilskt? (Du-weer too ain-dj-eelst?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

Dugir nakar her eingilskt? (Du-weer neahk-ar her ain-dj-eelst?)

Help! 

Hjálp! (Yolp!)

Look out! 

Ansa tær! (An-sa te-ar!)

Good morning. 

Góðan morgun. (go-wan mor-gun)

Good day. 

Góðan dag(in). (go-wan de-a-(yin))

Good evening. 

Gott kvøld. (gott kvuhld)

Good night. 

Góða nátt. (go-wa nawt)

Sleep tight 

sov gott. (sov got)

I don't understand. 

Eg skilji ikki. (Ey shil-ye ich-e)

Where is the toilet? 

Hvar er vesi? (Kvar er ve-Seh?)

Problems

Leave me alone. 

Far burtur. (Fe-ar bursh-tur)

Don't touch me! 

Ikki nerta meg! (Ee-cheh nersh-ta meh)

I'll call the police. 

Eg ringi eftir løgregluni. (Eh rin-djeh ett-ir luhg-reg-lun-eh)

Police! 

Løgregla! (Luhg-reg-la)

Stop! Thief! 

Steðga! Tjóvur! (Steh-ga! Choh-vur!)

I need your help. 

Mær tørvar tína hjálp. (Mear tuhr-var tooin-ah hyolp)

It's an emergency! 

Hetta er ein neyðstøða! (Hett-a er ain ney-stuh-wa!)

I'm lost. 

Eg eri vilst/ur (f/m). (Ey er-eh vilst-/ur)

I lost my bag. 

Eg havi mist mína tasku. (Ey heah-veh mist mooi-nah task-oo)

I lost my wallet. 

Eg havi mist min pengapung. (Ey hav-ee mist mooin peng-a-pung)

I'm sick. 

Eg eri sjúk/ur (f/m). (Ey er-eh shyook-/ur)

I've been injured. 

Eg eri skødd/skæddur (f/m). (Ey er-ee skuhdd/skadd-ur)

I need a doctor. 

Mær tørvar ein lækna. (Me-ar tuhr-var ain lahk-na)

Can I use your phone? 

Kann eg læna telefonina? (Kann ey le-a-na te-le-fon-een-a)

Numbers

NOTE: The numbers 1 to 3 have three gender forms in Faroese, and this gender form changes depending upon whether the number is attached to a masculine, feminine, or neuter word. Only numbers one to three have these gender forms. In addition the numbers one to three change for the four grammatical cases.

half 

hálvur(m) /hálv(f) /hálvt(n) (holvur /holv /holvt)

third 

triðjingur (tree-ying-ur)

quarter 

fjórðingur (fyoh-ring-ur)

less 

minni (min-ni)

more 

meiri/fleiri (mu-ee-ri/flu-ee-ree)

Cardinal

Examples:

(m) Ein maður (ayn ma-ur) "a/one man".

(f) Ein kvinna (ayn kvin-a) "a/one woman".

(n) Eitt barn (aytt bahrn) "a/one child".

1 

ein, (masculine) (ayn)

ein, (feminine) (ayn)

eitt, (neuter) (aytt)

2 

tveir, (masculine) (tvay-r)

tvær, (feminine) (tya-r)

tvey, (neuter) (tv-u-ee)

3 

tríggir, (masculine) (truee-gir)

tríggjar, (feminine) (truee-jar)

trý, (neuter) (truee)

4 

fýra (fuee-ra)

5 

fimm (fim)

6 

seks (sehks)

7 

sjey (shay)

8 

átta (otta)

9 

níggju (nwi-choo)

10 

tíggju (twi-choo)

ti (neuter) (ti)

11 

ellivu (ehl-ee-voo)

12 

tólv (tohlv)

13 

trettan (tret-an)

14 

fjúrtan (fyoor-tan)

15 

fimtan (fim-tan)

16 

sekstan (sex-tan)

17 

seytjan (suhy-chan)

18 

átjan (och-an)

19 

nítjan (nuee-chan)

20 

tjúgu (choo-u)

21 

einogtjúgu (ayn-o-choo-u)

22 

tveirogtjúgu (tvay-ro-choo-u)

23 

tríggirogtjúgu (truee-gi-ro-choo-u)

30 

tretivu (tret-i-voo)

40 

fjøruti (fyuh-root-ee)

50 

fimti (fim-tee)

60 

seksti (sex-tee)

70 

sjúti (shoo-tee)

80 

áttati (ott-a-tee)

90 

níti (nuee-ti)

100 

hundrað (hund-ra)

101 

hundrað og ein (hund-ra o ayn)

200 

tvey hundrað (tvuee hund-ra)

300 

trý hundrað (truee hund-ra)

400 

fýra hundrað (fuee-ra hund-ra)

1000 

túsund (too-sund)

2000 

tvey túsund (tvuee too-sund)

100,000 

hundrað túsund (hund-ra too-sund)

1,000,000 

millión (mee-hlion)

1,000,000,000 

miljarður (meel-yar-ur)

1,000,000,000,000 

billión (bee-hlion)

Ordinal

1st 

fyrsti (masculine) (feer-stee)

fyrsta, (feminine) (feer-sta)

fyrsta, (neuter) (feer-sta)

2nd 

annar (masculine) (an-ar)

onnur, (feminine) (on-ur)

annað, (neuter) (an-a)

3rd 

triði (masculine) (tree-ee)

triða, (feminine) (tree-a)

triða, (neuter) (tree-a)

...etc...

4th 

fjórði (fjohr-ee)

5th 

fimti (feem-ti)

6th 

sætti (syat-ee)

7th 

sjeyndi (shuen-dee)

8th 

áttandi (o-tand-ee)

9th 

níggjundi (nuee-jund-ee)

10th 

tíggjundi (tuee-jund-ee)

11th 

ellivti (ehl-eev-tee)

12th 

tólvti (tohlv-tee)

13th 

trettandi (tret-and-ee)

14th 

fjúrtandi (fyoort-and-ee)

15th 

fimtandi (fim-tand-ee)

16th 

sekstandi (sex-and-ee)

17th 

seytjandi (suee-chand-ee)

18th 

átjandi (o-chand-ee)

19th 

nítjandi (nuee-chand-ee)

20th 

tjúgundi (choo-und-ee)

21st 

tjúgundi og fyrsti (choo-und-ee o feer-stee)

22nd 

tjúgundi og annar (choo-und-ee o an-ar)

23rd 

tjúgundi og triði (choo-und-ee o tree-ee)

30th 

tretivundi (tret-iv-und-ee)

40th 

fjørutandi (fyuhr-ut-and-ee)

50th 

fimtandi (fim-tand-ee)

60th 

sekstandi (sex-tand-ee)

70th 

sjútandi (shoo-tand-ee)

80th 

áttandi (o-tand-ee)

90th 

nítandi (nuee-tand-ee)

100th 

hundraðandi (hund-ra-and-ee)

200th 

tveyhundraðandi (tvuhy-hund-ra-and-ee)

300th 

trýhundraðandi (truee-hund-ra-and-ee)

1000th 

túsundandi (too-sund-and-ee)

2000th 

tveytúsundandi (tvuhy-too-sund-and-ee)

1,000,000th 

milliónandi (meehl-ion-and-ee)

1,000,000,000th 

túsund milliónandi (''too-sund meehl-ion-and-ee)

1,000,000,000,000th 

billiónandi (beehl-ion-and-ee)

Time

now 

nú (noo)

early 

árla (aur-la) or tíðliga (ti-ljah)

later 

eftir (ett-ir)

before 

fyrr (feer)

morning 

morgun (morg-un)

afternoon 

seinnapartur (sayn-a-part-ur)

evening 

kvøld (kvuhld)

night 

nátt (nott)

Clock time

The Faroe Islands use the 24hr clock format like most of Europe.

one o'clock AM 

klokkan er eitt (klok-an er aytt)

two o'clock AM 

klokkan er tvey (klok-an er tvuee)

noon 

á miðdegi (o mi-de-ee)

one o'clock PM 

klokkan er trettan (klok-an er tret-an)

two o'clock PM 

klokkan er fjúrtan (klok-an er fyoor-tan)

midnight 

midnátt (mid-nott)

Duration

_____ minute(s) 

_____ minuttur (meen-oo-tur)

Plural; minuttir (meen-oo-tir)

_____ hour(s) 

_____ tími(singular) (tuee-mee)

Plural; tímar (tuee-mar)

_____ day(s) 

_____ dagur (da-ur)

Plural; dagar (da-ar)

_____ week(s) 

_____ vika (veek-a)

Plural; vikur (veek-ur)

_____ month(s) 

_____ mánaður (mon-a-ur)

Plural; mánaðir (mon-a-ir)

_____ year(s) 

_____ ár (awr)

Days

today 

í dag (uee dya)

yesterday 

í gjár (uee gyor)

tomorrow 

í morgin (uee mor-gin)

this week 

hesa vikuna (he-sa veek-u-na)

last week 

í siðstu viku (uee see-stu vee-ku)

next week 

næstu viku (nya-stu vee-ku)

Sunday 

Sunnudagur (sun-u-da-ur)

Monday 

Mánadagur (mon-a-da-ur)

Tuesday 

Týsdagur (tuees-da-ur)

Wednesday 

Mikudagur (mee-ku-da-ur)

Thursday 

Hósdagur (hohs-da-ur)

Friday 

Fríggjadagur (fruee-ja-da-ur)

Saturday 

Leygardagur (luee-gar-da-ur)

Months

January 

Januar (jan-oo-ar)

February 

Februar (feb-roo-ar)

March 

Mars (marss)

April 

Apríl (ap-ruel)

May 

Mai (migh)

June 

Juni (yun-ee)

July 

Juli (yul-ee)

August 

August (a-gust)

September 

September (sept-em-bir)

October 

Oktober (Okt-o-bir)

November 

November (nov-em-bir)

December 

Desember (des-em-bir)

Writing time and date

DATE: The date in Faroese is written in the dd/mm/yyyy format.

Long date

Leygardagur 05. apríl 2008

Saturday 5th April 2008

Short date

05-04-2008

05/04-2008

Time

Written: klokkan 07.05

Spoken: "klokkan er fimm minuttar yvir sjey" (Klock-an er fim meen-u-tar ee-vir shey)

Literal Meaning: "The clock is five minutes after seven."

Colors

black 

svartur (svarsh-tur)

white 

hvítur (kvuee-tur)

gray 

gráur (gro-ur)

red 

reytt (reyt)

blue 

blátt (bloaat)

yellow 

gult (gult)

green 

grønt (gruhnt)

orange 

appelsingult (ap-el-sin-gult)

purple 

lilla (lee-hla)

brown 

brúnt (broont)

Transportation

Note: There are no trains in the Faroe Islands.

Bus

A single ticket to _____. 

Kundi eg fingið einvegis ferðasil til _____? (Kun-dee eh finj-ee ayn-vay-ees fer-a-seel teel _____?)

A return ticket to _____. 

Kundi eg fingið ferðasil aftur og fram til _____? (Kun-dee eh finj-ee fer-a-seel aft-ur o fram teel _____?)

How much does that cost? 

Hvat kostar tað? (Kvat kost-ar tay?)

Where does this bus go? 

Hvar fer bussurin? (Kvar fer buss-ur-in?)

Where is the bus to _____? 

Hvar er bussurin til _____? (Kvar fer buss-ur-een teel _____?)

Does this bus stop at _____? 

Steðgar bussurin hjá _____? (Ste-ar buss-ur-een hjoa _____?)

When does the bus leave? 

Nær fer bussurin? (Nyer fer buss-ur-een?)

When does the bus leave for _____? 

Nær fer bussurin til _____? (Nyer fer buss-ur-een teel _____?)

When does the bus arrive? 

Nær kemur bussurin? (Nyer kem-ur buss-ur-een?)

When will the bus arrive in _____? 

Nær kemur bussurin í _____? (Nyar kem-ur buss-ur-een uee _____?)

Boat

Which harbour is next? 

Hvor er næsta havn? (Kvor ehr nya-sta havn?)

Is this the ferry for _____? 

Er hetta ferjan til _____? (Ehr het-a fer-yan teel _____?)

Directions

How do I get to _____? 

Hvussu komi eg til _____? (Kvussu kom-i ey till)

...the port? 

...havnið? (haun-iy)

...the bus stop? 

...bussteðgiplássið? (...)

...the airport? 

...flogvøllurin? (flog-vhu-tlu-rin)

...the youth hostel? 

...vallarheimið? (van-tlar-heim-iy)

...the _____ hotel? 

... _____ hotellið? (...)

...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 

...Ameriskt/Kanadiskt/Avstraliskt/Breskt konsúlatið? (...)

Where are there a lot of... 

Hvar er mangt... (...)

...hotels? 

...hotell? (...)

...restaurants? 

...matstovur? (...)

...bars? 

...drykkjustovur? (...)

...sites to see? 

...staðir verur at síggja? (...)

Can you show me on the map? 

Kunnu tygum vísa mær á kortinum? (...)

street 

breyt (...)

Turn left. 

Fær vinstru. (...)

Turn right. 

Fær høgru. (...)

left 

vinstra (...)

right 

høgri (...)

straight ahead 

Beint fram (...)

towards the _____ 

til _____ (...)

past the _____ 

framvið _____ (...)

before the _____ 

á undan _____ (...)

opposite (the) _____ 

á ímóti _____ (...)

Watch for the _____. 

at tykja _____. (...)

north 

norður (...)

south 

suður (...)

east 

eystur (...)

west 

vestur (...)

uphill 

upp (...)

downhill 

niður (...)

Taxi

Taxi! 

Taxi! (Tax-ee!)

Take me to _____, please. 

Tak meg til _____, gerið so væl. (Tak meh teel _____, je-ree soh vyal)

How much does it cost to get to _____? 

Hvat kostar tað til _____? (Kvat kost-ar tya teel _____?)

Take me there, please. 

Tak meg til higar, gerið so væl. (Tak meh teel hyar, je-ree soh vyal)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available? 

Eru nøkur leys kømur? (Eh-roo nuhk-ur luhys kuhm-ur)

How much is a room for one person/two people? 

Hvat kostar ein einkultkamar/dupultkamar? (Kvat kost-ar ayn-kult-kam-ar/dup-ult-kam-ar?)

Does the room come with... 

Kemur tað við... (Kem-ur tya vuhy...)

...bedsheets? 

...songløkum? (song-luhk-um)

...a bathroom? 

...bað? (bya)

...a telephone? 

...einari telefon? (ayn-ar-ee tel-eh-fon)

...a TV? 

...einum sjónvarpi? (...)

May I see the room first? 

Kann eg sleppa at síggja tað? (Kan eh slep-a at suhy-ja tya?)

Do you have anything quieter? 

Eru nøkur við stillari kami? (Eh-roo nuhk-ur vuhy stihl-ar-ee kam-ee?)

...bigger? 

...stórari? (stur-ar-ee?)

...cleaner? 

...reinari? (rayn-ar-ee?)

...cheaper? 

...bíligari? (buhy-lee-ar-ee?)

OK, I'll take it. 

Tað er fínt, eg taki tað. (Tya ehr fuhynt, eh tak-ee tya)

I will stay for _____ night(s). 

Eg steðgi í _____ nátt/nætur. (Eh steh-ee uhy _____ nott/nyat-ur)

Can you suggest another hotel? 

Kunna tit bjóða annað hotell? (Kun-a teet bju-a yana hotehl?)

Do you have a safe? 

Hava tit trygg? (Hav-a teet treeg?)

...lockers? 

...skáp? (skop?)

Is breakfast/supper included? 

Er morgunmatur/døgurði uppi í? (Ehr morg-un-mat-ur/duh-ur-ee upp-ee uhy?)

What time is breakfast/supper? 

Nær er morgunmatur/døgurði? (Nyar ehr morg-un-mat-ur/duh-ur-ee upp-ee?)

Please clean my room. 

Kunna tit reinsa kamar mín? (Kun-a teet rayn-sa kam-ar muhyn?)

Can you wake me at _____? | Kunna tit vakna meg klokkan _____? (Kun-a teet vak-na meh klok-an _____?)

I want to check out. 

Kann eg fáa rokningina? (Kan eh fo-a rok-neeng-een-a?)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 

Samtykkja tit Ameriskar/Avstraliskar/Kanadiskar dollarar? (Sam-teech-ah teet am-er-eesh-ar/av-stral-ee-shar/kan-ad-eesh-ar dohl-ar-ar?)

Do you accept British pounds? 

Samtykkja tit Breskar pund? (Sam-teech-ah teet bresh-ar pund)

Do you accept credit cards? 

Samtykkja tit gjaldkort? (Sam-teech-ah teet gyald-kohrt?)

Can you change money for me? 

Kunna tit hjálpa meg at broyta pening? (Kun-a teet hjolp-a meh at broy-ta pen-ing?)

Where can I get money changed? 

Hvar kann eg broyta pening? (Kvar kan eh broy-ta pen-ing?)

Can you change a traveler's cheque for me? 

Kunna tit broyta ferðapening fyri meg? (Kun-a teet broy-ta fer-a-pen-ing fee-ree meh?)

Where can I get a traveler's cheque changed? 

Hvar kann eg broyta ferðapening? (Kvar kan eh broy-ta fer-a-pen-ing?)

What is the exchange rate? 

Hvat er kursurin fyri ___? (Kvat ehr kur-sur-een fee-ree ___?)

Where is an ATM? 

Hvar er ATM? (Hvar ehr ah-te-em?)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please. 

A table for one person/two people, please. (...)

Can I look at the menu, please? 

Can I look at the menu, please? (...)

Can I look in the kitchen? 

Can I look in the kitchen? (...)

Is there a house specialty? 

Is there a house specialty? (...)

Is there a local specialty? 

Is there a local specialty? (...)

I'm a vegetarian. 

I'm a vegetarian. (...)

I don't eat pork. 

I don't eat pork. (...)

I don't eat beef. 

I don't eat beef. (...)

I only eat kosher food. 

I only eat kosher food. (...)

Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) 

Can you make it "lite", please? (...)

fixed-price meal 

fixed-price meal (...)

a la carte 

a la carte (...)

breakfast 

breakfast (...)

lunch 

lunch (...)

tea (meal) 

tea (...)

supper 

supper (...)

I want _____. 

I want _____. (...)

I want a dish containing _____. 

I want a dish containing _____. (...)

chicken 

chicken (...)

beef 

beef (...)

fish 

fish (...)

ham 

ham (...)

sausage 

sausage (...)

cheese 

cheese (...)

eggs 

eggs (...)

salad 

salad (...)

(fresh) vegetables 

(fresh) vegetables (...)

(fresh) fruit 

(fresh) fruit (...)

bread 

bread (...)

toast 

toast (...)

noodles 

noodles (...)

rice 

rice (...)

beans 

beans (...)

May I have a glass of _____? 

May I have a glass of _____? (...)

May I have a cup of _____? 

May I have a cup of _____? (...)

May I have a bottle of _____? 

May I have a bottle of _____? (...)

coffee 

coffee (...)

tea (drink) 

tea (...)

juice 

juice (...)

(bubbly) water 

water (...)

water 

water (...)

beer 

beer (...)

red/white wine 

red/white wine (...)

May I have some _____? 

May I have some _____? (...)

salt 

salt (...)

black pepper 

black pepper (...)

butter 

butter (...)

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)

Excuse me, waiter? (...)

I'm finished. 

I'm finished. (...)

It was delicious. 

It was delicious. (...)

Please clear the plates. 

Please clear the plates. (...)

The bill, please. 

The bill, please. (...)

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority